TalkScams Team · Source-backed educational guide · Not a community report
Beware of imposters pretending to recover money through FBI IC3
The FBI warns that scammers pose as IC3 personnel or recovery agents to target people who have already lost money, using fake websites and convincing materials.
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center · Original advisory date: 2026-07-20
This summary is not a firsthand report or an endorsement or partnership by the source.
Warning signs to recognize
- Someone claiming to be an investigator contacts you unexpectedly for a recovery fee
- A website resembles an official reporting site but has a different domain
- An alleged recovery agent asks for more personal or financial information
How to check or protect yourself
- Do not pay upfront fees to purported recovery agents
- Use ic3.gov directly to verify the reporting process
- Preserve messages and report the impersonation
Read the original FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center advisory